nstructions: Keep it clean. No real names. My advice is to stick with the plot diagram we discussed (short story elements handout). Activating Circumstance, Rising Action, Climax, Denouement. Consider starting with Setting (time, place). You may write as much as you want, but remember it may be subsequently edited for grammar, fluency and cohesiveness.
“I can’t help you,” He said, “There’s nothing I can do, I’m so sorry.” He glanced another time at the bloodstained sleeves of my pants and tightened his lips. My foot stayed planted between the door and the door frame; I couldn’t feel it anymore, but I knew the torpid limb was all that kept hope for my survival. He looked into my eyes again amicably and said “Please, just go, please—“
“Just one night, one,” I said discreetly “Just let me stay somewhere warm. I’ll sleep on the floor, in the basement, anywhere, please.” The rain was falling harder now. I turned back, only to see a dark, sylvan valley in front of me. A droplet of rain fell onto the fresh wound, and in return I felt an excruciating sensation.
“I don’t want to repeat myself bud, beat it.” He announced again. This time the look in his eyes faded. He kicked my foot and slammed the heavy door between us. The dint of hope in my mind disappeared and I soon realized I had nowhere else to go.
I was certain now that night for me meant there would be no coming dawn. The breath in me was ice. My fingers found the crisp edges of the small box in my jacket pocket. What trouble it had brought-- nothing but trouble.
I remained on the doorstep for a moment, staring at the texture of the wood; I loathed the thought of leaving the dim comfort of the porch light, quivering in a hazy circle. However, Vance had made it clear that I was unwelcome.
He was right to be wary of me. We'd both grown up among these very fields, but over the years, my reputation had swiftly and undeniably cast a dark shadow over what relations I had, among those few brave enough to settle the valley; despite the stories. Brave, or desperate enough.
If I knew Vance at all, he would be standing on the other side of the door this very moment-- waiting to make sure I left before he returned to quiet of his sleep.
At that, I turned and set off with a decisive motion. Lucky he would even sleep tonight; lucky he had a house to deny me entrance to. All those years ago, it could very well have been you instead of me, I thought as the downpour enveloped me once more. You orphaned instead of me.
I started running; by now my leg had become numb, but the exertion was preferable to standing around. I didn't know where I was going, but anywhere was better than here. Besides, I could feel his eyes watching; two dark pupils drilling into my back: judging. I ran quicker -- my feet beating the soaked ground with each step -- I didn't want him to think I needed help, I didn't want him to see how desperate I was.
"It's your fault Vance!" I yelled at the air as soon as I left hearing range. "If I die out here, it'll be your fault!"
It was true. He was responsible for this. He caused this to happen. All these years he's done nothing but hold me back.
Feeling started to return to my leg again and, along with it, pain. I stopped running, abruptly, and the sudden shock forced the box out of my pocket.
I picked it up and looked at it. The mahogany wood, once a glowing red, now appeared a dull brown-black in the lack of light. Its brass lock -- the key for which had been missing for as long as I can remember -- was rusting; it no longer shined like gold. A long crack had started to form on the back face, stretching halfway from one corner to another.
The box no longer seemed valuable. It no longer seemed to be worth the countless fights with Vance, or alienation from the community, or the miserable nights spent outside in the rain because you have no home to return to. Suddenly I just wanted to get rid of the box.
I'll give it back to her, I thought. Leave it on her doorstep or stuff it down her mailbox. Or I'll throw it into a fire. Anything. I just don't want to see this box again.
I shoved the box back in my pocket as I plopped myself down on a boulder.
But is she still going to be there? I haven't seen her since it happened, I thought.
The day that Carolina disappeared, was also the day she gave me the box. The box that caused all this misery. She said she had to go and she wouldn't tell me where she was going. She just shoved the box in my hand along with a piece of paper.
"Take care of this. And take care of yourself," she said. She backed up from where I was standing, taking one last glance at my face before she started to run through the busy market, weaving past big men and vendors trying to sell her things.
"Carolina, please. Tell me what's happening. I don't understand!" I yelled at her in panic. I ran after her, trying to catch up. Tears were running down my face after bumping into dead ends and getting caught up in the busy afternoon crowd. But I lost her. My older sister, gone without an explanation.
I looked at the piece of paper on top of the box. Written on it was a message in a language I couldn't decipher. I went back into the market and asked for help. But no one knew that foreign language. No one was there to help me.
I traveled through all the main cities, asking people if they could decipher the message written on the piece of paper. After three years of desperate searching, no one could translate what the paper said. Then, I met an old expedition guide who had traveled through many countries to learn their languages. This polyglot helped translate the message.
It was an address. Vance's address. My "long lost" brother had been found.
That was 14 years ago. I didn't understand before but now it all makes sense. I have to find Carolina and destroy this box. The only way I'll find her is through Vance. He knows where she is but he can't tell me. Not until I give him the box.
We had been best friends growing up, Vance and I. We did everything together. Even though Vance was two years older than me, he always included me in his group of friends. With Vance around, I felt invincible. I had always been on the scrawny side, while Vance had matured early. In fact, we made quite the comical pair. Everybody we met on the streets hid a grin when they saw us sauntering along, with me, two heads shorter than Vance.
We had been best friends. That much is true, but our friendship had been broken a long time ago.
When I was fourteen, we had gotten into a fight. I don't even remember what the fight was about. We were young and dumb, for lack of better terms. Stubborn, really. Neither one of us gave up, and so, we stopped talking. It was the fight that would separate us, and our brotherhood along with it; forever. Even now. With me, pleading at his door, he refuses to help me. Not even to listen.
All I want to do is to make him understand. To explain. If only I could throw the box away. But I couldn't. I only had one choice left.
I walked back, legs still hurting from the short sprint. Sure that Vance had gone back to sleep.
Walking up to the doorstep, I gently placed the box on his "Welcome" doormat. Hoping he would accept the box, along with my note of apology, I walked away.
Suddenly, I came up with a brilliant idea. Vance had lost his family four years ago. After breaking up with his girlfriend, he moved out to the city, taking their two year old son Jaden with him. I thought if somehow I could find Jaden and get him to meet his father, Vance would finally tell me where my beloved sister is. It seemed like a good plan, so I started packing a few things I would need on my trip to the city. Only if I realized what was about to happen, I would have returned and never looked back.
Without further considerations, I grabbed my bags and walked out of my house. There I was, in the quest to find Jaden, and also a journey that would eventually guide me to the sister that I had longed to see. I first arrived at the train station. It was overflowing with all kinds of people. Finally, my train to the big city had arrived. I then jumped onto that bulky, painted red train. When the train had started on its tracks, I gazed out the window and saw the eyes of my reflection. Those eyes were eyes of ambition; they showed my one and only wish: to see my darling sister again, just more one time.
I fell asleep dreaming about Carolina, reminiscing the good old times. An announcement jolted me awake, ripping me from that wonderful dream. A man with a high, sing-song voice announced that I had arrived at my destination. I picked up my bag and got off the train.
As soon as I set foot off the train, my mind was transfixed on finding Jaden's house. My only clue to find him was a piece of paper with his address, which he had left to his neighbour right before he left the city. That was years ago and he might have moved during all those years, but it was not like I had many choices left.
I got on a cab and showed the cab driver the address. I was on my way to the house Jaden might still be living in. I fell back to my wonderful dream until it was stopped by an interruption.
"Hey you! Stop there!" a man yelled in outrage as a car drove right into our path. Then five men wearing coal black leather jackets, holding guns and baseball bats, stepped out.
"You got money? Mind lending us some?" The man standing in the lead said. Oh God! The Gangsters!
"I'm so sorry, but do I look like someone that would have money in their pockets?" I replied gently .
Bang! He smashed the front window of the cab and replied in an intimidating tone, "Oh, that's too bad, I guess you are not going anywhere then!"
Suddenly, I felt a hard, blunt, metal object crush the back of my skull.
The next thing I remember was waking up in a dark, spacious, underground parking lot. The smell of blood, and rotten food filled the entire area. I tried to move myself but I found my hands and feet all tied up.
When I snap out of my stupor, I realize that I had been kidnapped! My heart is pounding so fast that I almost think it would jump out of my chest.
I have to save myself, I repeat this over and over to myself.
I have to find my beloved sister.
Yes, I still haven't met my sister, I cannot die right here! I must find her! An intense desire to survive overwhelmed me. I looked around and tried to look for something sharp so that I could cut the ropes that were tied around my hands and feet. After a long struggle, I finally got rid of the binding. I tried to run as fast as I could to escape the somber garage.
By the time I escaped from there, it was getting really dark outside. It seemed that I had been in a state of unconsciousness for a really long time. I had absolutely no idea where I was, the only thing that I could tell is that I was on a highway in the countryide. I did not intend to walk along the endless highway, so I waited for a free ride from the passing cars.
About a half hour later, a dim beam of light finally broke the darkness. An old lady driving a shabby Jeep slowly approached me, I waved, she stopped, and happily allowed me onboard. After I settled in, I showed her the piece of paper with Jaden's address and she was pretty surprised and asked me where I got her home address from.
"Who are you looking for though? I don't know you, do I?" She seemed confused and then added. "I live with a boy named Jaden who I adopted two years ago. You must have been looking for him, right?" Now it was my turn to get surprised. "Yes! What a coincidence. I can't believe that he actually lives there. I have some thing really important to tell him. Please, take me there now!" I was really excited that I could find him in such a short time. "Okay, young man, but please calm down first. Can you tell me how you know Jaden? It would be great if you are his family member," the old lady said benignly. "Not really. It's a long story." I tried to calm myself, but still couldn't disguise my excitement.
While we were talking , the car slowly pulled over to the curb and stopped in front of a little house painted in light khaki which had electric lights warmly lit. "Here it is," I whispered to myself.
As I exited the car, I nearly fell from the excrutiating pain that enveloped my leg. Throughout this time entire time, the suspense and adrenaline had made the pain a distant feeling, but now as I made my last few steps to achieve my primary goal, became ever more present in my mind. I made an effort to hide any sign of discomfort by asking her what I already knew.
"Do you know Jaden's real father and mother?" I asked politely. "Only by name, they disappeared quite a while back..." her voice trailed off as if she were trying to contemplate the whereabouts of Jaden's biological parents. "Well," I began, "I think I might know where his father might be." "Oh that’s fantastic! How is it that you know this?" "Because he's my brother."
“Oh,” says the old lady plainly. Her smile turned into a subtle frown. She sounded like she is restraining herself from saying anything more to me.
“Oh? Did Jaden say anything to you about his past?” I asked.
“Well quite honestly, Jaden isn’t the most expressive man I’ve met. I’m sorry young man, I’m in no position to tell you anything. You might want to ask Jaden yourself if you’re brave enough,” says the old lady.
“Brave enough? Why would I be afraid?” I asked “For heaven’s sake, please tell me just a little bit more,” I thought.
“He’s very sensitive, come on in,” says the old lady giving a gesturing welcome to her house.
"Ok. I will try my best to help Jaden." I said to the old lady.
“Jade, it’s Uncle Ben. Are you here? I have come here to ask few questions about your dad.” I shouted as I opened the door…
I hate my sister for she put such ridiculous burdens on my shoulder. There are no meanings to talk to Vance about our past. Raindrops shoot down from the sky like bullets as I stand in the storm starring at the precious box; they not only cause my body to shake painfully, but also piecing through my soft heart. Why do I have to do this? Why Caroline give me this box? Did she mean to cause me suffering? Those questions flash through my mind. Suddenly, I saw a beam of light cut across heavy clouds and shines a piece of grassland. I feel enlightened by such light beam. Whatever are the answers to these questions, it does no longer to be a concern. As I stare at the box at this dramatic moment of my life, I suddenly realized the meaning of my life. My life should be controlled only by myself. My life should be filled with ambitions that I pursue, not carrying someone’s dream. I must pursue my own goal in order to feel fulfilling sensation. “I have to survive through this storm.” I said to myself.
As my gaze touched upon Jaden, I can’t help but notice how much he resembled the younger version of my ex-best friend. Suddenly, unwanted memories of our pleasant childhood past times leaped through my mind. I quickly decided to brush them off like speckles of dust on my dirty shirt, but they clung onto me like a piece of lint that was hard to get rid of.
“Jaden, it’s so nice to see you. You have no idea how much effort it took for me to get here.” I told him by way of greeting.
“Hi, I’m not sure we’ve met.” Jaden replied. His tone and expression seemed less than welcoming.
“I’m Uncle Ben. Your father’s…” I struggled to find a word to describe our estranged relationship over the years.
“He was a good friend of mine. I came to see you in hopes of you wanting to reconcile with your father. He misses you dearly.” I proceeded on talking. Sure that the last part wasn’t completely a lie; I didn’t know how much of that was true either.
“He’s made it very clear from his actions that he wanted to cut all ties with me when he abandoned me. I am grateful now that I have a roof over my head and warm food to fill my belly every night. What makes you think I want to go back to him after he just got rid of me like a worthless piece of trash found in the back alleys? What he did was inhumane. She has been nothing but kind to me.” Jaden said impatiently as he tilted his head towards the old lady.
“Please see yourself out. I don’t want my darling Jaden to be hurt again. The pain is like having someone kick my heart around like a ball when I see him suffer.” The old lady urgently spoke to me.
The last bit of my hope to ever reunite with Carolina was shattered into a million pieces as my head came apart like a beautiful vase that has just been dropped to the hard and unforgiving floor. Defeated, I could do nothing more but stand there at their front door motionlessly.
All is lost...There is nothing I can do now... Jaden was my last hope to see my beloved sister again, but now that last bit of hope shattered as well. What's the point of living such hellish life? Suddenly the voice inside me started to suggest crazy ideas. Why do I have to be the only one suffer? Why does it have to be only me? I should make them suffer as well. They should feel the same pain as me.
I quickly shook off the speak of the devil. I didn't want anyone else to suffer from such greiving pain. But I counld't bear it anymore. I headed off to the streets and saw a giant building made with red bricks. It's time to end the suffering I went into the building and climbed up to the rooftop.
I slowly moved toward the edge where I could see everything in the city. The city was full of busy people walking to their destinations. I looked up in the sky and closed my eyes. Tears went through my cheeks like raindrops. I guess this is the end to my life, filled with grief and despair. Suddenly, I heard rapid footsteps from behind. When I opened my eyes and looked back, there was.....
A shadow in the shape of Jaden. At first I thought it was my mind playing tricks on me, creating illusions to please my inner ambitions but once the shadow got closer I realized that he was real. Jaden, my last ray of hope had returned. He screamed out "Don't jump, is it true that my father is looking for me?" I glanced back at him and replied " He truly misses you and wants you back into his life". My last hope to see my beloved sister Caroline has returned.
I starred into the distance and a picture of Caroline formed in my mind. I finally felt that I had accomplished something meaningful, and true to my inner melody. I whispered
"Caroline, I'm coming to see you..."
Suddenly I felt an unnatural lurch. The box that I'd been holding in my outstretched hand over the ledge suddenly grew incredibly heavy. I felt myself sway over the ledge...
Jaden made a cry as I stumbled off the building to the street below.
I woke up with a start. Oddly, I couldn't move any part of my body. Something raced through my mind, but I couldn't quite catch it. Box.
The room was an eery shade of white. It smelled of disinfectant and people who believe that they can be saved. So this is heaven, I thought to myself. What a depressing place to spend the rest of one's life in. Do I hear Justin Bieber winning the VMA awards on the heaven-viewing-machine-atron? God, excuse the pun, someone please get me out of here.
"Hey, can someone tell me the directions to hell? I heard they got a hell of a barbecue going on down there! Ha ha. Get it? Hell of a barbecue?" Silence.
"No seriously guys, girls, guy-girls, God, whoever is up here. Someone care to fill me in?" My voice sounded oddly distant, as if I were hearing it from the other side of the wall. Maybe the audio perception frequency is a bit different here. Box.
"Hey sunshine, glad to see you awake and fiesty again," the blurry blob of a face said to me. Whoa! So the punishment for our sins and cos - just kidding - is to impair our vision of what could have potentially been a very beautiful lady nursing my swooning figure back to health? Then my eyes focused. Oh God, oh God, come back blurry vision, please come back!
"So, this is Heaven huh? I thought I'd get a lot more from going through my awful 13th birthday and getting publicly humiliated in front of everyone. God, if you can hear me in your office, I think you should not make it a requirement for us to wear those little black caps. I hated that. It always, and I mean always, messes up my hairdo, you know what I'm saying?"
"You ain't in heaven Sunshine, this here is Alabaster, Alabama," the 50 year old "lady" informed me. Box.
"Alabama! How did I get stuck in redneck territory? And how could this not be Heaven? The last time I checked, I was in free-fall; hurtling towards the ground at -9.8 m/s/s from a six story high building. If you do the math, or physics, I should have been instantly noodles by the time I kissed the concrete. Oh wait, sorry, you southerners can't do math. Well you see, a negative acceleration of..." I trailed off as she seemed about to hit me over the head with the menacing piece of corn on the cob that she had been chewing on for about 20 minutes now.
After composing her 340 pound frame, she finally said, "Listen genius, you were sent in here last night with some minor scrapes and bruises, nothing serious. But I can't say the same for your hair."
I immediately ran my hands through my hair. There was nothing there, I was as bald as turkey on Thanksgiving. I had a burning desire to reach out and destroy something, but my beautiful personality got the better of me. It was a traumatizing blow, nevertheless. It had taken more than ten years to grow my six meter fro, which was legitimately my honor and my pride. This is brutal, just brutal. Box.
"I've gotta say," she continued, "in all these years that I've worked in this industry, I have never seen someone with such luck as you. True, you did fall off a six-story building, but it seems as if your hair acted as some sort of super cushion. Not only did you live, you landed as light as a feather, and slept the whole way to the hospital. I had a laugh out of that, I did. They thought you had a concussion, but you were just sleeping. Like a suckling piglet at that too." She just has a knack for comparisons, I thought to myself. Box.
The box! That's what it was! I had to get the box and find Jaden.
"Where's the box? That little mahogany box I was holding. You have it don't you?" I plead.
"Someone came to visit you a few hours ago. He didn't say anything, just took the box and left," the nurse replied.
"And you just let him? You would let a man come in and take my stuff!" I demanded, furious.
"Calm down butterfingers!" said a voice so distinctively familiar, yet so foreign at the same time. I turned to see who the intruder was.
Vance.
"What are you doing here V-Vance," I stuttered. I tried to keep my composure; looked him straight in the eyes with a cold expression, in the same manner that he had thrown me out just days before.
He seemed relieved and solemn at the same time; something I had not seen in a long time. Hell, I had not even seen his face for as long as I could remember. What was he doing here anyways? The box. He was holding the box. I wanted to yell, no to scream and tear at him. I wanted to to throw all the hurt and pain he had caused me in these few years back at him. I wanted to let him know, that he was cruel man, for turning me down. For letting me bleed while the rain soaked my clothes, undergarments, and skin. For the tears which drowned my heart, and filled my lungs. For not being there for me, or for Caroline, and certainly not for his own kid when he needed him the most. I was ready to explode.
"I came to see my kid brother. I heard about what happened, but I had a hunch that your crazy hairdo would've bounced you to Mars or something like that." He grinned. He actually had the audacity to grin.
I don't think I could ever forgive Vance for what he has done. No, not ever. But I couldn't just throw him away now that he's practically come begging to make it up to me. I could, and should give in a big boot in the derriere, but just not now. I should rip his heart out, but no. I needed to find Caroline. In this merciless, demented world, Caroline is the only speck of hope that keeps me going. I need Vance to find Caroline.
"Yea, after all these years, you and your cold, calculating heart finally decided I was worth the trouble huh? Vance, please give me the box," I managed to say in a feeble murmur.
His face suddenly turned to stone, "There's no need for it anymore kiddo. It's better that I just take this along with me. Trust me, just let it go."
"What are you talking about? Vance, get your head straight. That is my box. That's the box Caroline - remember her? - gave to me for safekeeping. She told me to find her? Do you know where she is Vance? You know where she is don't you?" I said, this time spit was flying out the corners of my mouth.
"Yes, I do," he said solemnly, "but it's a truth that's better left with me. Let's just go home now, Caroline's whereabouts isn't important!"
"Well, I WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH!" I screamed.
"YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!" he retorted.
Silence.
"If you really need to know, Caroline's dead."
"That's impossible. Why, no, how could she be dead if she knew that I would be looking for her? She can't die."
He handed me the box.
"Open the box," he said, "you've found her already."
Gently, I brushed off the dirt and grime on the box, and looked for a feasible point of entry to somehow pry open the box. I chanced upon a small set of grooves on the underside of it. I pressed hard into it, and sure enough, it opened with a click. I peered inside. There was one single piece of folded parchment. It lay on a bed constructed with the finest velvet, inlayed with a few fine gems. For what reason, I am unsure.
It read.
Dear Kiddo,
By the time you read this letter, I will have gone to a better place. I don't want you to cry for me, as this was my decision. Doctor Roberts told me last month that I had terminal cancer, and an operation would cost $50,000 dollars. It was money I didn't have. I have decided to travel the country, until my destiny gets the better of me. What money I hadleft,I decided to invest in commodities, as you knowhow unreliable our country's currency is. If you peel away the velvet on this box, you'll find everything. Sell all thegems and valuable you take from it. Use it for an education, you'll need it. Your my favorite, you know that? When Mum and Dad passed away, you were just a baby.I single-handedly raised you, trying to provide you with everything that you could need. I soonrealized though, that what I could offer you, was far from being enough. I can't take care of youforever you know? You have got to learn how to fend for yourself. But I know your still young and dumb. Go to your brother Vance, he will take care of you. I will always love you and be with you Kiddo!
Eternal Love,
Caroline Baldwin
I tried to hold back the tears. I tried to be brave, for Caroline. She wouldn't want me to cry. But no matter how hard I tried, I could not embrace the reality.
No this can't be true. I must really be in Heaven, and God is just playing another one of his practical jokes.
Vance came and sat by the bed. He put his arms around me, and held onto me, firmly. For the first time in a long time, I felt the embrace of someone's loving arms, and not just a Gangster dragging me into his car. I broke down and just cried. I cried, and cried, and couldn't stop the tears from flowing. This time, it drowned my heart with happiness, tinged with melancholy, and filled my lungs up with joy, but also eternal sorrow. I had found Caroline. She never left me. Caroline was with me, all this time. I bawled like a baby, unashamed. Thus, cometh home.
“I can’t help you,” He said, “There’s nothing I can do, I’m so sorry.” He glanced another time at the bloodstained sleeves of my pants and tightened his lips. My foot stayed planted between the door and the door frame; I couldn’t feel it anymore, but I knew the torpid limb was all that kept hope for my survival. He looked into my eyes again amicably and said “Please, just go, please—“
“Just one night, one,” I said discreetly “Just let me stay somewhere warm. I’ll sleep on the floor, in the basement, anywhere, please.” The rain was falling harder now. I turned back, only to see a dark, sylvan valley in front of me. A droplet of rain fell onto the fresh wound, and in return I felt an excruciating sensation.
“I don’t want to repeat myself bud, beat it.” He announced again. This time the look in his eyes faded. He kicked my foot and slammed the heavy door between us. The dint of hope in my mind disappeared and I soon realized I had nowhere else to go.
I was certain now that night for me meant there would be no coming dawn. The breath in me was ice. My fingers found the crisp edges of the small box in my jacket pocket. What trouble it had brought-- nothing but trouble.
I remained on the doorstep for a moment, staring at the texture of the wood; I loathed the thought of leaving the dim comfort of the porch light, quivering in a hazy circle. However, Vance had made it clear that I was unwelcome.
He was right to be wary of me. We'd both grown up among these very fields, but over the years, my reputation had swiftly and undeniably cast a dark shadow over what relations I had, among those few brave enough to settle the valley; despite the stories. Brave, or desperate enough.
If I knew Vance at all, he would be standing on the other side of the door this very moment-- waiting to make sure I left before he returned to quiet of his sleep.
At that, I turned and set off with a decisive motion. Lucky he would even sleep tonight; lucky he had a house to deny me entrance to. All those years ago, it could very well have been you instead of me, I thought as the downpour enveloped me once more. You orphaned instead of me.
I started running; by now my leg had become numb, but the exertion was preferable to standing around. I didn't know where I was going, but anywhere was better than here. Besides, I could feel his eyes watching; two dark pupils drilling into my back: judging. I ran quicker -- my feet beating the soaked ground with each step -- I didn't want him to think I needed help, I didn't want him to see how desperate I was.
"It's your fault Vance!" I yelled at the air as soon as I left hearing range. "If I die out here, it'll be your fault!"
It was true. He was responsible for this. He caused this to happen. All these years he's done nothing but hold me back.
Feeling started to return to my leg again and, along with it, pain. I stopped running, abruptly, and the sudden shock forced the box out of my pocket.
I picked it up and looked at it. The mahogany wood, once a glowing red, now appeared a dull brown-black in the lack of light. Its brass lock -- the key for which had been missing for as long as I can remember -- was rusting; it no longer shined like gold. A long crack had started to form on the back face, stretching halfway from one corner to another.
The box no longer seemed valuable. It no longer seemed to be worth the countless fights with Vance, or alienation from the community, or the miserable nights spent outside in the rain because you have no home to return to. Suddenly I just wanted to get rid of the box.
I'll give it back to her, I thought. Leave it on her doorstep or stuff it down her mailbox. Or I'll throw it into a fire. Anything. I just don't want to see this box again.
I shoved the box back in my pocket as I plopped myself down on a boulder.
But is she still going to be there? I haven't seen her since it happened, I thought.
The day that Carolina disappeared, was also the day she gave me the box. The box that caused all this misery. She said she had to go and she wouldn't tell me where she was going. She just shoved the box in my hand along with a piece of paper.
"Take care of this. And take care of yourself," she said. She backed up from where I was standing, taking one last glance at my face before she started to run through the busy market, weaving past big men and vendors trying to sell her things.
"Carolina, please. Tell me what's happening. I don't understand!" I yelled at her in panic. I ran after her, trying to catch up. Tears were running down my face after bumping into dead ends and getting caught up in the busy afternoon crowd. But I lost her. My older sister, gone without an explanation.
I looked at the piece of paper on top of the box. Written on it was a message in a language I couldn't decipher. I went back into the market and asked for help. But no one knew that foreign language. No one was there to help me.
I traveled through all the main cities, asking people if they could decipher the message written on the piece of paper. After three years of desperate searching, no one could translate what the paper said. Then, I met an old expedition guide who had traveled through many countries to learn their languages. This polyglot helped translate the message.
It was an address. Vance's address. My "long lost" brother had been found.
That was 14 years ago. I didn't understand before but now it all makes sense. I have to find Carolina and destroy this box. The only way I'll find her is through Vance. He knows where she is but he can't tell me. Not until I give him the box.
We had been best friends growing up, Vance and I. We did everything together. Even though Vance was two years older than me, he always included me in his group of friends. With Vance around, I felt invincible. I had always been on the scrawny side, while Vance had matured early. In fact, we made quite the comical pair. Everybody we met on the streets hid a grin when they saw us sauntering along, with me, two heads shorter than Vance.
We had been best friends. That much is true, but our friendship had been broken a long time ago.
When I was fourteen, we had gotten into a fight. I don't even remember what the fight was about. We were young and dumb, for lack of better terms. Stubborn, really. Neither one of us gave up, and so, we stopped talking. It was the fight that would separate us, and our brotherhood along with it; forever. Even now. With me, pleading at his door, he refuses to help me. Not even to listen.
All I want to do is to make him understand. To explain. If only I could throw the box away. But I couldn't. I only had one choice left.
I walked back, legs still hurting from the short sprint. Sure that Vance had gone back to sleep.
Walking up to the doorstep, I gently placed the box on his "Welcome" doormat. Hoping he would accept the box, along with my note of apology, I walked away.
Suddenly, I came up with a brilliant idea. Vance had lost his family four years ago. After breaking up with his girlfriend, he moved out to the city, taking their two year old son Jaden with him. I thought if somehow I could find Jaden and get him to meet his father, Vance would finally tell me where my beloved sister is. It seemed like a good plan, so I started packing a few things I would need on my trip to the city. Only if I realized what was about to happen, I would have returned and never looked back.
Without further considerations, I grabbed my bags and walked out of my house. There I was, in the quest to find Jaden, and also a journey that would eventually guide me to the sister that I had longed to see. I first arrived at the train station. It was overflowing with all kinds of people. Finally, my train to the big city had arrived. I then jumped onto that bulky, painted red train. When the train had started on its tracks, I gazed out the window and saw the eyes of my reflection. Those eyes were eyes of ambition; they showed my one and only wish: to see my darling sister again, just more one time.
I fell asleep dreaming about Carolina, reminiscing the good old times. An announcement jolted me awake, ripping me from that wonderful dream. A man with a high, sing-song voice announced that I had arrived at my destination. I picked up my bag and got off the train.
As soon as I set foot off the train, my mind was transfixed on finding Jaden's house. My only clue to find him was a piece of paper with his address, which he had left to his neighbour right before he left the city. That was years ago and he might have moved during all those years, but it was not like I had many choices left.
I got on a cab and showed the cab driver the address. I was on my way to the house Jaden might still be living in. I fell back to my wonderful dream until it was stopped by an interruption.
"Hey you! Stop there!" a man yelled in outrage as a car drove right into our path. Then five men wearing coal black leather jackets, holding guns and baseball bats, stepped out.
"You got money? Mind lending us some?" The man standing in the lead said. Oh God! The Gangsters!
"I'm so sorry, but do I look like someone that would have money in their pockets?" I replied gently .
Bang! He smashed the front window of the cab and replied in an intimidating tone, "Oh, that's too bad, I guess you are not going anywhere then!"
Suddenly, I felt a hard, blunt, metal object crush the back of my skull.
The next thing I remember was waking up in a dark, spacious, underground parking lot. The smell of blood, and rotten food filled the entire area. I tried to move myself but I found my hands and feet all tied up.
When I snap out of my stupor, I realize that I had been kidnapped! My heart is pounding so fast that I almost think it would jump out of my chest.
I have to save myself, I repeat this over and over to myself.
I have to find my beloved sister.
Yes, I still haven't met my sister, I cannot die right here! I must find her! An intense desire to survive overwhelmed me. I looked around and tried to look for something sharp so that I could cut the ropes that were tied around my hands and feet. After a long struggle, I finally got rid of the binding. I tried to run as fast as I could to escape the somber garage.
By the time I escaped from there, it was getting really dark outside. It seemed that I had been in a state of unconsciousness for a really long time. I had absolutely no idea where I was, the only thing that I could tell is that I was on a highway in the countryide. I did not intend to walk along the endless highway, so I waited for a free ride from the passing cars.
About a half hour later, a dim beam of light finally broke the darkness. An old lady driving a shabby Jeep slowly approached me, I waved, she stopped, and happily allowed me onboard. After I settled in, I showed her the piece of paper with Jaden's address and she was pretty surprised and asked me where I got her home address from.
"Who are you looking for though? I don't know you, do I?" She seemed confused and then added. "I live with a boy named Jaden who I adopted two years ago. You must have been looking for him, right?" Now it was my turn to get surprised. "Yes! What a coincidence. I can't believe that he actually lives there. I have some thing really important to tell him. Please, take me there now!" I was really excited that I could find him in such a short time. "Okay, young man, but please calm down first. Can you tell me how you know Jaden? It would be great if you are his family member," the old lady said benignly. "Not really. It's a long story." I tried to calm myself, but still couldn't disguise my excitement.
While we were talking , the car slowly pulled over to the curb and stopped in front of a little house painted in light khaki which had electric lights warmly lit. "Here it is," I whispered to myself.
As I exited the car, I nearly fell from the excrutiating pain that enveloped my leg. Throughout this time entire time, the suspense and adrenaline had made the pain a distant feeling, but now as I made my last few steps to achieve my primary goal, became ever more present in my mind. I made an effort to hide any sign of discomfort by asking her what I already knew.
"Do you know Jaden's real father and mother?" I asked politely.
"Only by name, they disappeared quite a while back..." her voice trailed off as if she were trying to contemplate the whereabouts of Jaden's biological parents.
"Well," I began, "I think I might know where his father might be."
"Oh that’s fantastic! How is it that you know this?"
"Because he's my brother."
“Oh,” says the old lady plainly. Her smile turned into a subtle frown. She sounded like she is restraining herself from saying anything more to me.
“Oh? Did Jaden say anything to you about his past?” I asked.
“Well quite honestly, Jaden isn’t the most expressive man I’ve met. I’m sorry young man, I’m in no position to tell you anything. You might want to ask Jaden yourself if you’re brave enough,” says the old lady.
“Brave enough? Why would I be afraid?” I asked “For heaven’s sake, please tell me just a little bit more,” I thought.
“He’s very sensitive, come on in,” says the old lady giving a gesturing welcome to her house.
"Ok. I will try my best to help Jaden." I said to the old lady.
“Jade, it’s Uncle Ben. Are you here? I have come here to ask few questions about your dad.” I shouted as I opened the door…
I hate my sister for she put such ridiculous burdens on my shoulder. There are no meanings to talk to Vance about our past.
Raindrops shoot down from the sky like bullets as I stand in the storm starring at the precious box; they not only cause my body to shake painfully, but also piecing through my soft heart. Why do I have to do this? Why Caroline give me this box? Did she mean to cause me suffering? Those questions flash through my mind.
Suddenly, I saw a beam of light cut across heavy clouds and shines a piece of grassland. I feel enlightened by such light beam. Whatever are the answers to these questions, it does no longer to be a concern. As I stare at the box at this dramatic moment of my life, I suddenly realized the meaning of my life. My life should be controlled only by myself. My life should be filled with ambitions that I pursue, not carrying someone’s dream. I must pursue my own goal in order to feel fulfilling sensation. “I have to survive through this storm.” I said to myself.
As my gaze touched upon Jaden, I can’t help but notice how much he resembled the younger version of my ex-best friend. Suddenly, unwanted memories of our pleasant childhood past times leaped through my mind. I quickly decided to brush them off like speckles of dust on my dirty shirt, but they clung onto me like a piece of lint that was hard to get rid of.
“Jaden, it’s so nice to see you. You have no idea how much effort it took for me to get here.” I told him by way of greeting.
“Hi, I’m not sure we’ve met.” Jaden replied. His tone and expression seemed less than welcoming.
“I’m Uncle Ben. Your father’s…” I struggled to find a word to describe our estranged relationship over the years.
“He was a good friend of mine. I came to see you in hopes of you wanting to reconcile with your father. He misses you dearly.” I proceeded on talking. Sure that the last part wasn’t completely a lie; I didn’t know how much of that was true either.
“He’s made it very clear from his actions that he wanted to cut all ties with me when he abandoned me. I am grateful now that I have a roof over my head and warm food to fill my belly every night. What makes you think I want to go back to him after he just got rid of me like a worthless piece of trash found in the back alleys? What he did was inhumane. She has been nothing but kind to me.” Jaden said impatiently as he tilted his head towards the old lady.
“Please see yourself out. I don’t want my darling Jaden to be hurt again. The pain is like having someone kick my heart around like a ball when I see him suffer.” The old lady urgently spoke to me.
The last bit of my hope to ever reunite with Carolina was shattered into a million pieces as my head came apart like a beautiful vase that has just been dropped to the hard and unforgiving floor. Defeated, I could do nothing more but stand there at their front door motionlessly.
All is lost...There is nothing I can do now... Jaden was my last hope to see my beloved sister again, but now that last bit of hope shattered as well. What's the point of living such hellish life? Suddenly the voice inside me started to suggest crazy ideas. Why do I have to be the only one suffer? Why does it have to be only me? I should make them suffer as well. They should feel the same pain as me.
I quickly shook off the speak of the devil. I didn't want anyone else to suffer from such greiving pain. But I counld't bear it anymore. I headed off to the streets and saw a giant building made with red bricks. It's time to end the suffering I went into the building and climbed up to the rooftop.
I slowly moved toward the edge where I could see everything in the city. The city was full of busy people walking to their destinations. I looked up in the sky and closed my eyes. Tears went through my cheeks like raindrops. I guess this is the end to my life, filled with grief and despair. Suddenly, I heard rapid footsteps from behind. When I opened my eyes and looked back, there was.....
A shadow in the shape of Jaden. At first I thought it was my mind playing tricks on me, creating illusions to please my inner ambitions but once the shadow got closer I realized that he was real. Jaden, my last ray of hope had returned. He screamed out "Don't jump, is it true that my father is looking for me?" I glanced back at him and replied " He truly misses you and wants you back into his life". My last hope to see my beloved sister Caroline has returned.
I starred into the distance and a picture of Caroline formed in my mind. I finally felt that I had accomplished something meaningful, and true to my inner melody. I whispered
"Caroline, I'm coming to see you..."
Suddenly I felt an unnatural lurch. The box that I'd been holding in my outstretched hand over the ledge suddenly grew incredibly heavy. I felt myself sway over the ledge...
Jaden made a cry as I stumbled off the building to the street below.
I woke up with a start. Oddly, I couldn't move any part of my body. Something raced through my mind, but I couldn't quite catch it. Box.
The room was an eery shade of white. It smelled of disinfectant and people who believe that they can be saved. So this is heaven, I thought to myself. What a depressing place to spend the rest of one's life in. Do I hear Justin Bieber winning the VMA awards on the heaven-viewing-machine-atron? God, excuse the pun, someone please get me out of here.
"Hey, can someone tell me the directions to hell? I heard they got a hell of a barbecue going on down there! Ha ha. Get it? Hell of a barbecue?" Silence.
"No seriously guys, girls, guy-girls, God, whoever is up here. Someone care to fill me in?" My voice sounded oddly distant, as if I were hearing it from the other side of the wall. Maybe the audio perception frequency is a bit different here. Box.
"Hey sunshine, glad to see you awake and fiesty again," the blurry blob of a face said to me. Whoa! So the punishment for our sins and cos - just kidding - is to impair our vision of what could have potentially been a very beautiful lady nursing my swooning figure back to health? Then my eyes focused. Oh God, oh God, come back blurry vision, please come back!
"So, this is Heaven huh? I thought I'd get a lot more from going through my awful 13th birthday and getting publicly humiliated in front of everyone. God, if you can hear me in your office, I think you should not make it a requirement for us to wear those little black caps. I hated that. It always, and I mean always, messes up my hairdo, you know what I'm saying?"
"You ain't in heaven Sunshine, this here is Alabaster, Alabama," the 50 year old "lady" informed me. Box.
"Alabama! How did I get stuck in redneck territory? And how could this not be Heaven? The last time I checked, I was in free-fall; hurtling towards the ground at -9.8 m/s/s from a six story high building. If you do the math, or physics, I should have been instantly noodles by the time I kissed the concrete. Oh wait, sorry, you southerners can't do math. Well you see, a negative acceleration of..." I trailed off as she seemed about to hit me over the head with the menacing piece of corn on the cob that she had been chewing on for about 20 minutes now.
After composing her 340 pound frame, she finally said, "Listen genius, you were sent in here last night with some minor scrapes and bruises, nothing serious. But I can't say the same for your hair."
I immediately ran my hands through my hair. There was nothing there, I was as bald as turkey on Thanksgiving. I had a burning desire to reach out and destroy something, but my beautiful personality got the better of me. It was a traumatizing blow, nevertheless. It had taken more than ten years to grow my six meter fro, which was legitimately my honor and my pride. This is brutal, just brutal. Box.
"I've gotta say," she continued, "in all these years that I've worked in this industry, I have never seen someone with such luck as you. True, you did fall off a six-story building, but it seems as if your hair acted as some sort of super cushion. Not only did you live, you landed as light as a feather, and slept the whole way to the hospital. I had a laugh out of that, I did. They thought you had a concussion, but you were just sleeping. Like a suckling piglet at that too." She just has a knack for comparisons, I thought to myself. Box.
The box! That's what it was! I had to get the box and find Jaden.
"Where's the box? That little mahogany box I was holding. You have it don't you?" I plead.
"Someone came to visit you a few hours ago. He didn't say anything, just took the box and left," the nurse replied.
"And you just let him? You would let a man come in and take my stuff!" I demanded, furious.
"Calm down butterfingers!" said a voice so distinctively familiar, yet so foreign at the same time. I turned to see who the intruder was.
Vance.
"What are you doing here V-Vance," I stuttered. I tried to keep my composure; looked him straight in the eyes with a cold expression, in the same manner that he had thrown me out just days before.
He seemed relieved and solemn at the same time; something I had not seen in a long time. Hell, I had not even seen his face for as long as I could remember. What was he doing here anyways? The box. He was holding the box. I wanted to yell, no to scream and tear at him. I wanted to to throw all the hurt and pain he had caused me in these few years back at him. I wanted to let him know, that he was cruel man, for turning me down. For letting me bleed while the rain soaked my clothes, undergarments, and skin. For the tears which drowned my heart, and filled my lungs. For not being there for me, or for Caroline, and certainly not for his own kid when he needed him the most. I was ready to explode.
"I came to see my kid brother. I heard about what happened, but I had a hunch that your crazy hairdo would've bounced you to Mars or something like that." He grinned. He actually had the audacity to grin.
I don't think I could ever forgive Vance for what he has done. No, not ever. But I couldn't just throw him away now that he's practically come begging to make it up to me. I could, and should give in a big boot in the derriere, but just not now. I should rip his heart out, but no. I needed to find Caroline. In this merciless, demented world, Caroline is the only speck of hope that keeps me going. I need Vance to find Caroline.
"Yea, after all these years, you and your cold, calculating heart finally decided I was worth the trouble huh? Vance, please give me the box," I managed to say in a feeble murmur.
His face suddenly turned to stone, "There's no need for it anymore kiddo. It's better that I just take this along with me. Trust me, just let it go."
"What are you talking about? Vance, get your head straight. That is my box. That's the box Caroline - remember her? - gave to me for safekeeping. She told me to find her? Do you know where she is Vance? You know where she is don't you?" I said, this time spit was flying out the corners of my mouth.
"Yes, I do," he said solemnly, "but it's a truth that's better left with me. Let's just go home now, Caroline's whereabouts isn't important!"
"Well, I WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH!" I screamed.
"YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!" he retorted.
Silence.
"If you really need to know, Caroline's dead."
"That's impossible. Why, no, how could she be dead if she knew that I would be looking for her? She can't die."
He handed me the box.
"Open the box," he said, "you've found her already."
Gently, I brushed off the dirt and grime on the box, and looked for a feasible point of entry to somehow pry open the box. I chanced upon a small set of grooves on the underside of it. I pressed hard into it, and sure enough, it opened with a click. I peered inside. There was one single piece of folded parchment. It lay on a bed constructed with the finest velvet, inlayed with a few fine gems. For what reason, I am unsure.
It read.
Dear Kiddo,
By the time you read this letter, I will have gone to a better place. I don't want you to cry
for me, as this was my decision. Doctor Roberts told me last month that I had terminal cancer,
and an operation would cost $50,000 dollars. It was money I didn't have. I have decided to
travel the country, until my destiny gets the better of me. What money I had left, I decided
to invest in commodities, as you know how unreliable our country's currency is. If you peel
away the velvet on this box, you'll find everything. Sell all the gems and valuable you take
from it. Use it for an education, you'll need it. Your my favorite, you know that? When Mum
and Dad passed away, you were just a baby. I single-handedly raised you, trying to provide
you with everything that you could need. I soon realized though, that what I could offer you,
was far from being enough. I can't take care of you forever you know? You have got to learn
how to fend for yourself. But I know your still young and dumb. Go to your brother Vance, he
will take care of you. I will always love you and be with you Kiddo!
Eternal Love,
Caroline Baldwin
I tried to hold back the tears. I tried to be brave, for Caroline. She wouldn't want me to cry. But no matter how hard I tried, I could not embrace the reality.
No this can't be true. I must really be in Heaven, and God is just playing another one of his practical jokes.
Vance came and sat by the bed. He put his arms around me, and held onto me, firmly. For the first time in a long time, I felt the embrace of someone's loving arms, and not just a Gangster dragging me into his car. I broke down and just cried. I cried, and cried, and couldn't stop the tears from flowing. This time, it drowned my heart with happiness, tinged with melancholy, and filled my lungs up with joy, but also eternal sorrow. I had found Caroline. She never left me. Caroline was with me, all this time. I bawled like a baby, unashamed. Thus, cometh home.